Checkpoints placed around Jewish Hebron
Security forces crackdown on settlers who rioted against police, army forces; defense minister says 'masked criminals' won't dictate agenda
Two settlers have been arrested for suspicion of throwing stones and eggs at police forces in recent days while wearing face masks. The two have been taken for questioning.
Youths attempting to enter Hebron's Jewish area will be stopped at the checkpoint. Security forces are not intending on entering homes, but are allowed to search youths milling around in the area in order to see if they are local residents or not.
The IDF says the Hebron residents are not under siege and can freely move around the city, and can enter and leave Hebron at will.
'Operation aimed against youths'
"This operation is aimed against youths who broke the law and who are not local residents," said an army source.
The army decided to arrest anyone seen with their face masked on Monday and whoever threw stones at security forces also faces arrest.
The Hebron Jewish community committee says it is working to calm tensions in the city, but warns against "provocations and initiatives by the police and the closed military zone edict."
Hebron flooded with police, army
Some 350 police joined by large army forces have flooded Hebron to prevent further disturbances.
Defense Minster Shaul Mofaz attacked the Hebron rioters while touring the Gaza Division, saying: "Recently, we saw severe clashes in Hebron, involving youths and a population which doesn't necessarily come from Hebron. These are criminals and law breakers who mask their face, and we won't allow them to dictate our agenda and the actions of the security system. The enforcement of the law against them will be unequivocal and determined, and anyone who violates the law will be arrested."
Mofaz added that "there will be no tolerance over this issue, we must transmit to the law breakers that there is a law wherever the security forces operate, this phenomenon must disappear from the scene; especially when masked youth lift up their hands, curse, throw rocks and injure soldiers.
This is when law enforcement agencies must do all they can to give IDF soldiers the ability to carry out their roles."
Speaking about the planned evacuation of three outposts in Samaria, the northern West Bank, Mofaz said that the operation would not take place in the next two weeks. "We are planning to clear these outposts next month, the moment law enforcement agencies allow us to do so, and the army will be ready," he said.
Some 20 settlers, 15 of them youths, have been arrested so far in the violent clashes in Hebron.
Four are under arrest until another decision is made, and five have been charged. The rest of the detainees will be released on condition they keep their distance from Hebron. The suspects have been arrested for suspicion of attacking security forces, illegal assembly, rioting, and possessions of a knife.
